About Empowering Kids
We are a program providing a range of services specializing in autism and ADHD in our rural Minnesota community. Our vision is to provide a life of hope, happiness, dignity, and purpose for neurodiverse individuals and their families.
Our Mission
To empower children, families, and the community by providing support and resources to those with autism or social challenges.
Our Vision
To provide a life of hope, happiness, dignity, and purpose.
Our Founders
Kim & Kenny Nelson
Kim’s personal experience with autism began within her own family and their endless search for services that are not available in rural communities. Because of her special vision, passion, and determination, Empowering Kids is now providing support to neurodiverse individuals and their families right here in Perham and the surrounding area.
Read Kim’s personal letter to families on why Empowering Kids means so much to her and her family.
Our Team
The neurodiverse population that we serve have special interests, sensory regulation tools and life hacks when navigating a neurotypical world. To represent the uniqueness of those profiles and our own neurodiverse staff, we share a little about our own individualized profiles.
Justine Anderson
Executive Director
Kj Henschel, MS, LMFT
Mental Health Provider
Marissa Tumberg
Level 2 Provider
Hattie Dorman
EIDBI Provider
Rae Ingebrand
PAES Lab Coordinator, EIDBI Provider
Jenna Lund
EIDBI Provider
Lauren Martin
EIDBI Provider
Kayla Ostlund
EIDBI Provider
Katie Boutiette
Occupational Therapist
Rachel Rennicke
EIDBI Provider
Dana Stras
Front Desk, Maintenance
Our Board
- Jen Hendrickson, Chair
- Cori Brown, Vice Chair
- Darren Fujii, Treasurer
- Rynell Freeland
- Megan Graten
- Kim Nelson
- Nancy Vyskocil
- Kristi Werner
Community Support is Vital
Empowering Kids is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization.Autism support is important for early intervention and to ensure that children grow up with the social skills and programs that can support their ever-changing and growing needs. Your contributions make our program possible, by supplying the special education tools to bring happiness and success to each child we serve.